22.9.13

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has made an impassioned plea to investors to support his vision of the world's largest software company as a unified devices and services powerhouse in his swan song before Wall Street.

Ballmer, who in August said he planned to step down within 12 months, told investors and analysts in an annual meeting that Microsofthad a bright future, despite missteps under his 13-year tenure.

"We have the tools. There's economic upside here. In the long run, we are almost uniquely poised to seize the opportunity," he said, in a typically high-volume presentation. "Today I'm speaking as an investor. You all own Microsoft stock, cheer for it, for God's sake."

Ballmer, who took over from co-founder Bill Gates as CEO in 2000, did acknowledge that under his leadership the company was too focused on Windows to realize that Apple's iPhone was revolutionizing computing.Read More